Were you struck by a vehicle while riding your bike? Bicycle incidents often result in serious, life-altering injuries, especially when drivers fail to yield, forget to check their blind spots, or act recklessly behind the wheel on the road.
The aftermath of a bicycle crash is physically, financially, and emotionally draining, but help is available. Let a bicycle accident lawyer in Natick assist with your case. At Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, we’re all about making sure your story is heard, your injuries are taken seriously, and your legal rights are protected.
We’re here to represent you as your Natick personal injury lawyer. For more than 21 years, our attorneys have handled over 15,000 cases and recovered more than $250 million in compensation for our clients.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Natick
Bicycle accidents occur in a variety of settings, from suburban side streets to intersections near downtown Natick or along Route 135. While the specific cause of the crash might not seem terribly important, this assumption could not be further from the truth.
Your bicycle accident attorney in Natick will look at the cause of the collision to determine who is at fault, which ultimately influences who you pursue compensation from as the victim of the collision. This information is very important for your attorney to take seriously.
Several types of bike crashes frequently result in injuries, including the following:
- Dooring: When a parked driver opens their car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist without checking that the lane is clear first, an accident is likely to occur. This is especially common in commercial areas where parking spots line the streets.
- Failing to yield: Drivers who fail to yield to cyclists at intersections, particularly when making left-hand or right-hand turns, have a higher chance of causing collisions. Cyclists are frequently overlooked in a driver’s field of vision, which leads to dangerous right-hook or left-cross collisions.
- Driving while distracted: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, or using GPS devices while operating a vehicle are in a position to easily miss a cyclist, especially when changing lanes or merging.
- Speeding: A speeding vehicle has less time to react to a cyclist, which has a high potential to cause far more serious injuries in the event of a crash.
- Encountering unsafe road conditions: Unmarked potholes, loose debris, construction zones, and poorly designed intersections often contribute to car crashes.
- Making errors as the cyclist: In some cases, cyclists fail to observe traffic laws or ride in predictable ways, both of which are behaviors that contribute to or cause accidents.
Fault and Liability in Massachusetts Bicycle Accidents
Massachusetts uses a modified comparative negligence system. This allows injured parties to pursue compensation even if they share some level of responsibility for the crash. However, someone who is more than 50% at fault for the collision cannot recover any compensation.
In bicycle accident claims, examples of who or what the law considers potential at-fault parties include:
- Negligent drivers
- Municipalities or public agencies responsible for road maintenance
- Property owners whose actions, or lack thereof, contributed to the crash
- Manufacturers or distributors of defective bicycle components
Time Limits for Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim
Massachusetts sets strict time limits that dictate how much time you have to pursue legal action in your case. Known as the statute of limitations, the timeframe for personal injury claims is often three years from the date that you sustained your injuries.
This deadline applies to incidents involving bicycles. Unfortunately, if you fail to file within that period of time, the courts will usually bar your claim entirely. This is true regardless of the strength of the evidence or the severity of your injuries. In other words, time is of the essence in personal injury cases.
However, there are exceptions that might apply to your case. It’s important to contact your bicycle accident attorneys in Natick to understand how much time you have based on the details of your unique situation.
Contact Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Natick Today For Legal Advice and Representation
If you or someone you love was injured in a bike-related crash, you should not have to go through the aftermath all by yourself. The impact of a serious cycling accident is likely life-changing, and Natick bicycle accident lawyers offer peace of mind as you move through the legal system.
For support and reassurance throughout every step of the civil process, reach out to Jason Stone Injury Lawyers today. Our Natick bicycle accident attorneys understand what you’re going through, and we are prepared to advocate for compensation on your behalf.
We take care of our own because Massachusetts is our home, and you never need to reach into your pocket to pay us. When you schedule a free consultation with us, remember that there’s no obligation, just information®. Consider that our Stone Cold Guarantee®. Call now.
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